Marks, McLain make US Olympic team in triple jump

By Associated Press Published: Jun 29, 2008 at 4:49 PM PDT Last Updated: Nov 20, 2008 at 10:25 PM PDT
Marks, McLain make US Olympic team in triple jump
Shani Marks lands in the sand pit during the women's triple jump competition at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Ore., Sunday, June 29, 2008. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- Shani Marks and Erica McLain have qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in the women's triple jump.

Marks' best leap of 47 feet, 2½ inches (14.38 meters) gives her a third national championship. In 2004, she finished fourth at the Olympic trials and missed the Olympics.

Shakeema Welsch finished second Sunday, but her best effort of 46-10 (14.27 meters) was wind-aided and doesn't count for Olympic qualifying purposes. She otherwise has not produced a jump that meets the minimum length, so she will not be on the team for Beijing.

McLain was third Sunday, but she previously met the qualifying standard and will go to the Olympics in August.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.